# Massage in Hougang

Any shop offering massage behind closed doors needs a Singapore Police Force Massage Establishment Licence. Expect about $38–48 for an hour of heartland foot reflexology and $68–117 for a branded-chain body massage (2026). Pay per visit: beauty and wellness businesses accounted for $2.13 million of prepaid-package losses reported to CASE in 2025.

## Key facts
- Listings: 15
- Median years in business: 7

## Prices in Singapore
Walk-in, pay-per-session prices as of mid-2026. Many outlets quote before 9% GST, so confirm the nett price; off-peak weekday slots and first-timer promos are often cheaper.

| Service | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Foot reflexology, 30 min (heartland) | S$20–S$32 per session |  |
| Foot reflexology, 60 min (heartland) | S$38–S$48 per session | Often includes a herbal foot soak |
| Body massage, 60 min (neighbourhood / no-frills) | S$40–S$58 per session |  |
| Body massage, 60 min (branded chain, e.g. Natureland, Kenko) | S$68–S$117 per session | Member rates lower; sticker prices before promos |
| Foot + body combo | S$50–S$92 per session | Depends on total duration |
| Hotel or luxury spa massage, 60 min | S$150–S$350 per session |  |

## Licences
- **Massage Establishment Licence (Category 1 or 2)** (Singapore Police Force – Police Licensing & Regulatory Department, required): Required to run a business providing massage in an establishment. Category 1 (HDB shophouses, malls, hotels, min. 100 sq m) and Category 2 (non-residential locations, min. 50 sq m, CaseTrust accreditation required). From the second half of 2026, licensed outlets must display a Police-issued poster with the licence number and a URL to report breaches. Check: https://www.police.gov.sg/Business-E-Services/Apply-for-Massage-Establishment-Licence
- **Exempted open-concept massage establishment (moving to Category 3 licence)** (Singapore Police Force, required): Open-concept outlets with no rooms, partitions or cubicles have been exempt from licensing if they notify the Police. SPF announced in April 2026 that this exemption ends in the second half of 2026; such outlets will need a new Category 3 licence, with a grace period for existing operators.
- **CaseTrust Accreditation for Spa and Wellness Businesses** (Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE), optional): Voluntary for most outlets (mandatory for Category 2 massage licensees). Accredited businesses must insure customers' prepaid packages and offer a cooling-off period of at least five working days for unused services. Check: https://casetrust.case.org.sg/Home/casetrustlist

## How to choose
- Prefer pay-per-visit. If you buy a package, keep it to a few months' use, buy from a CaseTrust-accredited business, and ask for the prepayment protection insurance certificate that accredited spas must issue.
- Look for the licence. Licensed outlets display their Massage Establishment licence; from late 2026 every licensee must show a Police-issued shopfront poster with the licence number.
- Match the therapist to the need: reflexology and relaxation massage are not treatment. For injury or chronic pain, see a physiotherapist or a TCM practitioner registered with the TCM Practitioners Board.
- Ask whether prices are nett. A quoted $48 hour becomes $52.32 once 9% GST is added.
- Try a single off-peak session before committing; weekday 11am–5pm rates at some chains are noticeably lower.

## Red flags
- Pressure to sign a large package "today only" or to top up an existing package during your session; pressure selling is an unfair practice under the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act.
- Private rooms or curtained cubicles at an outlet that describes itself as open-concept or exempt from licensing.
- Prices advertised far below the heartland norm combined with late-night opening and shuttered shopfronts.
- No written terms on package expiry, transfer or refund.

## Listings (top 15)
- [My Father's Feet](https://lookup.sg/biz/my-fathers-feet-hougang), Hougang · 6 Yio Chu Kang Road, ICB Shopping Centre · 8 min walk from Serangoon MRT · registered 2019
- [Knead Press Spa](https://lookup.sg/biz/knead-press-spa), Kovan · 23A Simon Rd · 3 min walk from Kovan MRT
- [Vic Joy Natural Therapies Centre](https://lookup.sg/biz/vic-joy-natural-therapies-centre), Kovan · 203 Hougang St 21, #01-65 blk 203 · 2 min walk from Kovan MRT · registered 1991
- [Kings Footworks](https://lookup.sg/biz/kings-footworks), Kovan · 205 Hougang St 21, #03-11A Heartland Mall · 1 min walk from Kovan MRT · registered 2017
- [My Father's Feet](https://lookup.sg/biz/my-fathers-feet-kovan), Kovan · Kovan City, 201 Hougang St 21 · 3 min walk from Kovan MRT · registered 2019
- [Hai Tian Healthcare](https://lookup.sg/biz/hai-tian-healthcare), Hougang · Hougang Spring, 698 Hougang St 61 · 8 min walk from Hougang MRT · registered 2020
- [LV Massage](https://lookup.sg/biz/lv-massage), Hougang · 1 Hougang Ave 3 · 8 min walk from Hougang MRT · registered 2022
- [Envy Spa](https://lookup.sg/biz/envy-spa), Kovan · 1000 Upper Serangoon Rd · 5 min walk from Kovan MRT
- [Zu Le Fang](https://lookup.sg/biz/zu-le-fang), Hougang · 1187 Upper Serangoon Rd, #01-02 · 4 min walk from Hougang MRT
- [Amber Spa](https://lookup.sg/biz/amber-spa), Hougang · 108 Hougang Ave 1, #01-1277 · 12 min walk from Kovan MRT
- [Spa Royale](https://lookup.sg/biz/spa-royale), Kovan · 201 Hougang St 21, #01-13 · 3 min walk from Kovan MRT
- [Mount Everest's Spa](https://lookup.sg/biz/mount-everests-spa), Hougang · 620 Hougang Ave 8, #01-260 · 12 min walk from Hougang MRT
- [Noble Foot Reflexology](https://lookup.sg/biz/noble-foot-reflexology), Kovan · Block 203 Hougang St 21, #01-75 · 3 min walk from Kovan MRT
- [JD Studio Sports Massage Therapy](https://lookup.sg/biz/jd-studio-sports-massage-therapy), Kovan · 183 Jln Pelikat, #01-34 The Promenade @ Pelikat · 7 min walk from Kovan MRT
- [Hua Foot Reflexology Centre](https://lookup.sg/biz/hua-foot-reflexology-centre), Hougang · 756 Upper Serangoon Rd · 8 min walk from Serangoon MRT

## FAQs
### How much is a massage in Singapore?
As of mid-2026, a 60-minute heartland foot reflexology session costs about $38–48 and a no-frills 60-minute body massage about $40–58. Branded chains such as Natureland and Kenko charge roughly $68–117 for an hour before promotions, while hotel spas run $150–350. Check whether the quoted price includes 9% GST.

### Do massage shops in Singapore need a licence?
Yes. Under the Massage Establishments Act 2017, businesses providing massage in an establishment need a Massage Establishment Licence from the Singapore Police Force. Open-concept outlets without rooms or partitions have been exempt if they notify the Police, but SPF is replacing that exemption with a Category 3 licence from the second half of 2026. Running an unlicensed massage establishment is an offence.

### What happens to my prepaid massage package if the shop closes?
Usually you become an unsecured creditor and recovery is unlikely. When reflexology chain Wan Yang closed abruptly in November 2025, CASE estimated about $1.25 million in prepayment losses. Packages bought from CaseTrust-accredited spa and wellness businesses are covered by prepayment protection insurance, so you can claim the unused value. Paying by credit card may also allow a chargeback.

### Is foot reflexology the same as medical treatment?
No. Reflexology and relaxation massage are not regulated healthcare. For back pain, sports injuries or post-surgery rehab, see a physiotherapist or a TCM practitioner registered with the TCM Practitioners Board. Healthcare premises licensed under the Healthcare Services Act are exempt from massage establishment licensing for that reason.

### Can I get a refund if I regret buying a massage package?
There is no automatic statutory cooling-off period for packages bought in-store. CaseTrust-accredited spa and wellness businesses must offer at least five working days to cancel for a full refund of unused services. If you were pressured or misled, CASE can help, and claims up to $20,000 can be filed at the Small Claims Tribunals.

## Sources
- Singapore Police Force – Massage Establishment Licence: https://www.police.gov.sg/Business-E-Services/Apply-for-Massage-Establishment-Licence
- SPF – Police tightens massage establishment regulatory regime (21 Apr 2026): https://www.police.gov.sg/media-hub/news/2026/04/20260421_singapore_police_force_tightens_massage_establishment_regulatory_regime
- SPF – Ten persons charged for operating unlicensed massage establishments (2022): https://www.police.gov.sg/media-hub/news/2022/20221009_ten_persons_charged_for_operating_unlicensed_massage_establishments
- CASE – 76.2 per cent surge in beauty complaints in 2025 (9 Feb 2026): https://www.case.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Media-Release%E2%80%9476.2-per-cent-surge-in-beauty-complaints-in-2025-with-consumers-losing-over-2.1m.pdf
- CASE – CaseTrust Accreditation for Spa and Wellness Businesses: https://www.case.org.sg/casetrust/casetrust-accreditation-for-spa-and-wellness-businesses/

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Source: Lookup (https://lookup.sg) · Data as of October 2026 · Listings compiled from Singapore government open data (data.gov.sg), OneMap and Overture Maps places. Free listings never show contact details; featured listings are labelled.